The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) will herald the beginning of a new and significant relationship for the two.

Volunteer-based emergency service NSW SES will partner with CSU to capitalise on mutually beneficial synergies between the two organisations.

Speaking at the MoU signing, CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said how important it is for CSU as a large regionally-based institution to partner with bodies like the NSW SES to help improve services for the community.

“Charles Sturt University has fully operational hands-on teaching facilities, ranging from state-of-the-art scientific and computer laboratories to radio and television studios, radio broadcasting studios, and even clinical care simulation facilities,” Professor Vann said.

“These facilities can be used not only for the benefit of our students, but also for community-based organisations like the NSW SES who provide critical services to people, often in their times of greatest need.

“If we can assist in mentoring, teaching and supporting NSW SES volunteers to upskill, or learn new and different ways of doing things, we add to their invaluable ability to respond in difficult and often dangerous emergency situations,” Professor Vann said.

Key areas of cooperation identified in the MoU include:

• - the recruitment of corporate volunteers and new unit members to the NSW SES
• - media training of NSW SES volunteers and unit members
• - the provision of media support to the NSW SES by specialists within the University, and
• - a roster of available CSU staff available for operational activity.

NSW SES Commissioner Mark Smethurst said that in addition to the provision of facilities and the sharing of knowledge as the foundation of this new partnership, the expanding of NSW SES volunteer numbers through encouraging CSU staff and students to join the ranks of the emergency service was a major benefit of the new relationship.

“We’re pleased to provide Charles Sturt University staff across each campus with the opportunity to become corporate volunteers or full members of our volunteer-based units,” Commissioner Smethurst said.

“Everyone will be provided with the training and equipment they need to do the important emergency response work that we undertake.

“We’re looking forward to working with Charles Sturt University to develop and build on this new partnership, which will ultimately benefit not only each of our organisations, but the communities we serve as well.”

The MoU was signed at the NSW SES Central West Region Headquarters in Bathurst today.